Overview

The National Defence Strategy recognises climate change as a national security issue. The effects of climate change will heighten challenges for Defence, including creating harsher conditions the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will operate within. Additionally, the global energy market is evolving in response to the global demand for cleaner and more sustainable forms of energy.

Operational energy is a critical enabler of military capability, and Defence depends on assured supplies of energy to achieve its mission.

Contested logistics, reliance on commercial technology and infrastructure, and Defence's energy use all pose challenges to Defence‘s ability to assure access to resilient energy supplies throughout competition, crisis and conflict.

In response, Defence has established the Defence Energy Transition Office (DETO) to coordinate operational energy transition. DETO collaborates across a range of internal and external networks and communities including:

  • international allies and partners
  • federal and state agencies
  • industry bodies
  • Defence business partners.

Activities

Defence’s operational energy transition will occur through 3 phases:

  • Phase 0 (2024) Foundation setting: strategy creation and implementation approvals to enable and support transition.
  • Phase 1 (2025–2030) Acceleration: in consultation with the Services, scaling adoption and providing an industry demand signal to support domestic production of lower-carbon liquid fuels, capitalising on early energy transition opportunities and setting the conditions for transitioning hard-to-abate Defence capabilities/platforms.
  • Phase 2 (2031–2050) Scaled operational energy transition.

Acceleration will occur by:

  • integrating low-carbon liquid fuels into the Defence Fuel Supply Chain
  • identifying practical energy efficiency measures
  • shaping policies to consider energy requirements
  • developing intelligence on emerging technologies.

Milestones

Achieved

  • November 2023: Demonstration of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) use in Royal Australian Air Force PC 21 at Williamtown Airshow
  • June 2024: All ADF Air platforms certified to fly on SAF
  • October 2024:
  • November 2024: Successful demonstration of renewable diesel (RD) on a Royal Australian Navy vessel MV Sycamore
  • March 2025: Defence air platforms operating on SAF during Avalon Airshow
  • June 2025:
    • RD Demonstration to power generators on a remote Defence site
    • 18 months of strategic partnership with Viva Energy and UGL limited – importation, handling and distribution of Defence’s low carbon liquid fuels requirements
    • securing of a 12 month supply of RD to support a Victorian regional rollout
  • July 2025: Provision of SAF and RD to platforms during exercise Talisman Sabre 25
  • August 2025:
    • Release of low–carbon liquid fuel literacy products – SAF and RD awareness videos
    • RD demonstration on armoured fighting vehicle systems
    • DETO participation in (including presentations to) the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) Environment Security Forum
  • September 2025: International Engagement with Pacific partners on potential joint SAF and RD initiatives
  • October 2025:
    • RD demonstration on Australian Defence Vessel – Reliant in support of Defence activity in the Pacific
    • Continuation of East Sale routinely operating on a SAF blend
  • October 2024 – October 2025: Conduct of 12-month pilot program providing SAF based F-34 blend to RAAF Base East Sale
  • November 2025:
    • LCLF Industry request for Information facilitated through AusTender seeking awareness on industry maturity and advice on where Defence influence would assist the transition
    • SAF demonstration on C17 in support to the 10th anniversary of Operation Southern Discovery in Antarctica
  • February 2026:
    • neat RD provided in stainless intermediate bulk containers in support of trials in Antarctica with the Australian Antarctic Division
    • RD demonstration on HMAS Canberra
    • SAF use on second C17 flight in support to 10th anniversary of Operation Southern Discovery in Antarctica
  • March 2026:
    • Defence Fuels Qualification Centre announced and operational
    • Ongoing engagement with and support for Australian industry participants with respect to military fuel standards/requirements
    • Ongoing monitoring of emerging Australian SAF and RD production capabilities with the view to exploring opportunities for uptake in future years.

Future intent

  • Maritime and land platforms progressing full certification to operate on a 30% blend of RD
  • Demonstration of RD on a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) warships
  • Bulk delivery of RD to a RAN port
  • Developing policy adjustments to accommodate future energy in future acquisition projects and in–service fleet management
  • Assessing electrification and hybrid power options for Defence operational capabilities
  • Exploring opportunities to partner with Defence industry in adopting electric and hybrid capabilities
  • Bulk import of SAF to support regional incremental adoption plan
  • Uptake of SAF and RD from domestic production as facilities become operational
  • Ensuring future major Defence exercises are fully low carbon liquid fuel (LCLF) enabled in conjunction with support from participating nations
  • Ongoing engagement with Pacific partner militaries regarding LCLF and energy security developments.

Contacts

jlc.deto@defence.gov.au